By Selen Tonkus
ANKARA
The European Union at its spring council summit in Brussels March 20-21 was to spend its Friday afternoon session discussing its 2030 climate and energy goals, but it seems that the EU's dependence on Russian energy will now be the dominant topic.
According to EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger's office, the leaders are likely to discuss energy supply security, the reduction on import dependency and the diversifying of supply sources.
The EU imports 30 percent of its energy from Russia of which 66 percent is transited through Ukraine and the very real possibility of Russia cutting off this supply because of the crisis there presents a threat to the EU economy, as well as preventing them from acting freely against perceived Russian aggression.
- EU tries, Russia resists
The EU's efforts to reduce its dependency might face resistance from Russia as it seeks to preserve its largest market, says Dmytro Naumenko, research fellow at the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting in Kiev.
He said Europe is looking at different projects such as the Trans Adriatic Pipeline that will carry gas from Azerbaijan via Turkey and the building of a new, competitive and common energy market. In addition, he said the EU is also implementing energy saving measures and developing renewables in its attempt to decrease its gas consumption.
However, "Russia is eager to keep its presence in the European market via its pipeline supplies and currently is looking at new projects such as the South Stream that would carry gas to central Europe via the Black Sea and an extension of the North Stream to carry gas to Germany via the Baltic sea," Naumenko added.
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